Thanks-living

My inclination for writing has diminished in the past few weeks as the priorities of life have become more complicated, but I would feel foolish if I did not stop to acknowledge the opportunity we have had to celebrate Thanksgiving.  The emphasis on shopping, Black Friday, and stores that did not even close on Thanksgiving Day have saddened me, as it seems the theme is more on "getting" than "giving".  Yet, an even more important thought has enveloped me today.  Our church website used the term "thanks-living", and I believe that idea is even more important than celebrating thanks on just one day of the year.  No matter our situation, we can always find something for which to be thankful.  We will even make ourselves feel better when we count our blessings.

"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving." Psalms 95:2

It's as simple (and important) as that!

Simple Pleasures

The challenges of my days lately have served only to make me appreciate what I have more.  A few days have ended with so much more fatigue than I care to endure; I have a very comfortable bed, pillows, and blankets that take away any complaint I might register.  The weather is getting so much colder; I don't appreciate that, but I have plenty of warm clothes, and a house that I can heat to a comfort zone.  I've gotten hungry a few times; I have many choices of food in my kitchen, a refrigerator to keep things cold and fresh, and a stove, microwave, and toaster oven plus a variety of appliances to help prepare food.  I have dirty dishes every day, but I can wash them easily.  That it, usually I can wash them easily.  We have had a leaky pipe, on a week-end when replacement parts were not available, so we've had to turn off the main water supply.  All the blessings in my life make it impossible for me to grumble about that.  Also, now I can say, I don't have to wash dishes!

Somewhere I heard that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown.  Remember then, to smile is taking the easy way out!

Blessings in Abundance

Being in the midst of taking care of our garden produce (tomatoes and cucumbers), it seems like that would be abundance enough.  When some in our world have so little to eat, we never go hungry.

I went to visit my sis JoAnn in the hospital this week, and was excited to see her out of bed, doing therapy, and demanding (she is a bit anxious) that someone move her wheelchair to the outside courtyard and then to a roomy spot indoors when the rain caught us.  She is making progress much quicker than anyone expected.  When we pray for something to happen, why are we surprised when it does happen?

JoAnn (and all our family) received another blessing this week--JoAnn's first granddaughter was born, beautiful and healthy.  Steve and Annie already have 3 adorable little boys, and now they can get ready to spoil their little sister.  The miracle of birth heals our hearts in so many ways.

I am reminded that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father . . ." (James 1:17)  That reminds me also, to count those blessings, to set my mind on good things, and always to be thankful.

I'm sure you have blessings also, possibly ones that you have forgotten about.  Try counting them up, and be thankful.

Be Ready

Never do I have nothing to write about; it's always a difficult decision to know what NOT to write.  Some thoughts are worth sharing, some are not.  Permit me to share where my mind was today.

This morning during our church service, we were reading the familiar Psalm 23.  The words "When I walk through the valley of shadow & death" brought me back instantly to the hospital room of Karine, the daughter I still miss so much.  In her last few days, it was a deep valley, full of shadows, yet she knew where she was going.  "Am I still here?" she asked several times. She was ready.  As tears kept escaping my eyes this morning, I had a clear-as-a-bell thought, "I'm ready too; I want to go".  It startled me with its clarity.  The church service changed its emphasis, and my thoughts were drawn to other things. 

Once at home, my mind went back, and then I remembered this: I have many things to do; God's not ready to have me come yet; I had better get busy!  I believe that Heaven has many great experiences for us, joys that will never end.  Yet, God has promised His blessings on what we do here, if we're living in obedience to Him.  My wandering thoughts brought me to Heaven and back; I think I'm ready for a Monday morning and a fresh new week!